KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Seven Kansas City Chiefs sat out the final practice before the team heads to Denver for a Sunday night showdown against the Broncos, including five defensive starters.
Dec. 13, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs linebackers Dee Ford (55) and Tamba Hali (91) celebrate after Ford sacked San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers at Arrowhead Stadium. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin along with linebacker Dee Ford (hamstring) and defensive lineman Jaye Howard (hip) are out for Sundays’ game. Ford’s 10 quarterback sacks stand tied for the NFL lead, which seriously hampers the Chiefs efforts to pressure Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian.
The team expects linebackers Derrick Johnson (Achilles) and Tamba Hali (knee) ready for duty Sunday, but the status of several other key defensive players remains up in the air.
Defensive tackle Dontari Poe missed practice after limited participation on Thursday. He played last week against Tampa Bay after suffering back spasms leading up to the game. The 6-3, 346-pound Poe underwent surgery in July 2015 to remove a herniated disc in his back.
Cornerback Steven Nelson missed the final two practices this week with what the team labeled a neck injury. It’s not know how Nelson sustained the injury or its severity. Nelson appeared on the sidelines of practice Thursday Friday wearing a hoodie.
Maclin misses his third-straight game with a groin injury. Coach Andy Reid this week said he did not believe the injury would continue to keep the veteran receiver out long term.
The only Broncos player out for Sunday is long snapper Casey Kreiter (calf). The team signed former Chiefs long snapper Thomas Gafford Friday in preparation for Kreiter’s absence.
DENVER BRONCOS
OUT: LS Casey Kreiter (calf)
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LS Casey Kreiter (calf)
Limited participation: CB Aqib Talib (low back), S T.J. Ward (hamstring) and DE Derek Wolf (elbow)
Full participation: QB Trevor Siemian (left shoulder), FB Andy Janovich (hand) and DE Billy Winn (hip)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: LB Dee Ford, WR Jeremy Maclin and DE Jaye Howard
QUESTIONABLE: LB Derrick Johnson, CB Marcus Peters, DT Dontari Poe, DE Kendall Reyes and CB Steven Nelson
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: LB Dee Ford (hamstring), DT Dontari Poe (back), DL Jaye Howard (hip), LB Derrick Johnson (Achilles), WR Jeremy Maclin (groin), LB Tamba Hali (knee) and CB Steven Nelson (neck)
Limited participation: DE Kendall Reyes (knee)
Full participation: CB Marcus Peters (hip) and RB Charcandrick West (concussion)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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